Messing About on the River (Part Two).

Sunday 24th to Friday 29th September 2017 on the Wey and Arun Canal.
More visitors on Sunday - Adrian, Sandra and Alex joined us at Millmead Lock in Guildford for a day trip to Godalming and back.

As we arrived in Godalming, the trip boat "Iona" was just leaving, pulled again by "Buddy". Such a beautiful sight and completely silent! There had been a lot of canoeists on the river on our way down and when Iona returned, the steerer remarked that, at times, the language got a little colourful as the canoeists did not seem to appreciate the fact that a horse drawn boat has "no ***** brakes"!

The five of us had a super lunch in the "Bel and Dragon" in Godalming. It was a really lovely day, as we rarely see the three of them and it was so good to catch up with Alex, who will be fifteen next month.

We sailed back to the Water Meadows outside Guildford where we said goodbye to Adrian, Sandra and Alex.
On the Monday, we went home by bus and picked up the car, so we were able to go home again by car on Tuesday to talk to the builders.
On Wednesday, we cruised down to Godalming again. At Cattershall Lock, we offered a lift into town to two Spanish ladies who had been walking alongside us along the towpath and who were intrigued by the narrowboat business.

After they left us in Godalming, we went shopping and, on our return, we found that they (Isabel and Elena) had left us a very sweet "thank you" gift on MM's stern.

In the evening, we had a farewell supper with Erika and the boys at their house in Milford. It was lovely.  And we caught the bus back to Godalming in the rain!
Finally, on Thursday, we said a reluctant goodbye to Godalming; it's been terrific here (even if Waitrose failed to have any fresh peas in their pods, said M!).

We returned to Guildford where we treated ourselves to a special Wagamama supper opposite the statue of the "happy scholar".

On Friday, we caught the bus back home for the last time before we take MM back to her winter mooring in Staffordshire. We've had an absolutely super two weeks "messing about on the river" down here in Surrey and it was particularly special because so many of our family came to visit.
Tomorrow we start the "Big Push" to get MM back to Aston Marina in two weeks. The "Canalplan" application says that it is 228 miles, 106 locks and will take about 109 hours - so watch this space!!
Over 6 Days: 16 miles, 13 locks and 13.8 hours.
Trip: 353 miles, 324 locks and 237.8 hours.